Great Ayton Christmas Lunch

One Monday, while I was catching up on reading the Stokesley, Great Ayton and Hutton Rudby's notices from the weekend, I noticed that Great Ayton was having a Christmas lunch. I have never been to a Christmas lunch before so I booked my place. I was so unbearably excited. Sunday morning seem to drag on, especially as I had to wait in the car while Rebecca led a service at Stokesley. Eventually she came back to the car and we were off to Great Ayton.

As we drove through the village there were lots of people about and signs for a duck race. It looked fun but I was headed directly for my Christmas lunch. The hall had two rows of trestle tables down the middle as well as a round table. At first it didn't look like there would be any room for me. I found a place and then had a chance to look around. The tables were beautifully laid with a Christmas themed napkin and a cracker for everyone. I didn't have long before I was called to join the queue to get lunch. The food was delicious and I considered going for seconds but thought I had better leave room for desert. I was very glad I did as there was a wide range of deserts and I was even allowed to try more than one!

In between courses I got help to open my cracker. My crown was the perfect fit and along with the star I got from the Methodist Women in Britain Circuit Service made me look very regal. I felt that I was suitably dressed for Seamer's All Age Nativity later that afternoon and felt sure that I would be asked to play the part of one of the kings. Also in my cracker, found a joke and a small plastic frog that hopped.

I was feeling full of festive fun and food but I couldn't go without a closer look at the angels on the window. They were drawn by the children and in the Sunday School and their parents. As I looked at the angels I realised how I had never really appreciated the view from the window before – the road going into the village and the stream and the fields beyond. I wondered whether the celebrations of Christmas would help me look at the world I live in a new way.